Paris (AFP)
If necessary, the state "will be there for Airbus", assured Sunday the Minister of Public Accounts Gérald Darmanin, without giving details on the type of aid that the aircraft manufacturer could receive.
"We will see, and if there are any difficulties we will be there to help Airbus," said Mr. Darmanin on Radio J, explaining that "aeronautics and automobiles, moreover, are two major industries that he we will have to help especially, and the government will be there. "
Faced with the virtual shutdown of air transport due to the pandemic, the European manufacturer, which saw its sales fall in the first quarter, has already slowed down its production and has taken measures of partial unemployment. Its American competitor Boeing has already announced that it will reduce its global workforce by around 10%.
However, said Gérald Darmanin, the state should only intervene "when it is really absolutely necessary". Airbus with sufficient cash "to pass this date of May 11", "there is no particular intervention from the State to have for the moment, if this is not what we are already doing" , also said Mr. Darmanin.
As it stands, it is "all the activity of economic support, loans guaranteed by the state, load deferrals, direct aid to airlines", he detailed.
Thus, "when we help Air France, we indirectly help Airbus", he said, referring to the support of 7 billion granted to the French carrier to cope with the coronavirus crisis.
© 2020 AFP